WEDDING WEBSITE FORMAT

Rupa & Abi

April 5, 2024

Welcome

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Hi!

Welcome to our wedding website. We are so excited to celebrate with you. Can't wait for the big day(s)! 

Here is a teaser from our engagement ceremony: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMLRSiPr_C4

Please RSVP by March 1, 2024.

Love, 

Rupa and Abi

Stories
How We Met
How he proposed
Events
Thu
Apr 4
2024

1:00 pm
TO 3:30 pm

ITC Grand Chola
63, Anna Salai
Little Mount, Guindy

Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600032
India

Henna Celebration!
Dress Code

Indian or western festive formal - fun, bright colors are recommended!

Description

Mehndi, otherwise known as henna, is a paste associated with positive spirits and good luck. Indian Wedding tradition calls for a Mehndi ceremony to be held the night before the wedding as a way of wishing the bride good health and prosperity as she makes her journey on to marriage. The Mehndi Ceremony is organized by the Bride’s family bringing together the female components of each side.

While Mehndi is mainly for females, male relatives are invited to join in on the party that comes after the Bride has completed her henna. The core significance of applying Mehndi is to utilize its natural medicinal herbal remedies, cooling the body and relieving the Bride of any stress before her big day. Henna is applied to both the hands and the feet as a means of cooling the nerve-endings of the body, preventing the nerves from tensing up.

Thu
Apr 4
2024

4:30 pm
TO 5:30 pm

ITC Grand Chola, Chennai
63, Anna Salai
Little Mount, Guindy

Chennai, 600032
India

A parade to celebrate the Groom's arrival
Dress Code

Indian or western festive formal - fun, bright colors are recommended!

Description

Traditionally, on the day of marriage in the morning before muhurtham (the ceremony), the groom’s family arrive at the bride’s village but do not enter the bride’s home. The mappillai veetar (groom’s side) arrive and wait at some Pillayar (Ganesha) temple or community canters where the pen veetar (bride’s side) headed by bride’s father go to welcome them with band.

Thu
Apr 4
2024

6:30 pm
TO 10:00 pm

ITC Grand Chola
63, Anna Salai, Little Mount
Guindy

Chennai, 600032
India

Celebration of the first time that the Bride and Groom's families come together. Performances, dinner, and dancing!
Dress Code

Indian or western festive formal - fun, bright colors are recommended!

Fri
Apr 5
2024

8:00 am
TO 1:30 pm

ITC Chola
63, Anna Salai, Little Mount
Guindy

Chennai, 600032
India

Traditional Indian wedding ceremony
Dress Code

Traditional Indian formal or western formal

Fri
Apr 5
2024

6:30 pm

ITC Grand Chola
63, Anna Salai, Little Mount
Guindy

Chennai, 600032
India

Music, Dinner, and Dancing!
Dress Code

Men and Women - wear Indian or Western formal. 

Sat
May 11
2024

5:00 pm

Ritz Carlton - Tysons Corner
1700 Tysons Blvd
McLean, VA 22102

Single Image
Dress Code

Black-Tie optional - western or Indian formal wear

Key People
Parents
Ponna Arumugam
Ponna Arumugam
Mother of the bride
Jayaram Ramamurthi
Jayaram Ramamurthi
Father of the Bride
Sudha Mukund
Sudha Mukund
Mother of the groom
Mukund Devanathan
Mukund Devanathan
Father of the groom
Bridesmaids
Rathna Ramamurthi
Rathna Ramamurthi
Matron of Honor
Pooja Mukund
Pooja Mukund
Carly Kulik
Carly Kulik
Chelsey Hardinbrook
Chelsey Hardinbrook
Krissy Kuikman
Krissy Kuikman
Nicole Jones
Nicole Jones
Meghan Reid
Meghan Reid
Brooke Alldredge
Brooke Alldredge
Groomsmen
Puneeth Kumar
Puneeth Kumar
Best man
Mathew Hough
Mathew Hough
Josh McCreight
Josh McCreight
Nikhil Deshpande
Nikhil Deshpande
Pouria Garret
Pouria Garret
Ryan Farrow
Ryan Farrow
Saken Wang
Saken Wang
India
Flights

Flying to Chennai, India

You will want to book a flight at minimum 3 months in advance to get the best deals. Your final destination point is the Chennai Airport (MAA). 

The latest you want to fly in is Wednesday evening India time (which means you leave the US no later than Tuesday as you will lose a day traveling to India). For your return, you can leave on Sunday or Monday back to the US. 

Pickup and drop off from the Chennai Airport to any hotels will be covered by us. Please inform the Bride or Groom of your flight times. 

Also note the time change - Chennai is 5.5 hrs ahead of GMT. 

Things to Do (Chennai)

We will be taking you to shopping and some local site-seeing starting Tuesday (April 2nd). This is where you can get clothes for our wedding and gifts to back home with you. 

Chennai is a city of tradition and culture. Here are some places to explore if you are interested and have some more time. 

Local Transportation

All transportation for local activities will be provided. We are organizing local activities including site-seeing and shopping. We will send out a Google survey to plan and coordinate times. 

Remember, airport pickup and drop-offs will also be covered by us. Please give the Bride or Groom your flight information. 

Cell Service & Data Plans

If you have an international plan as part of your existing cellphone service provider, you may want to activate so you can continue to use cell data  (mainly for Google Maps and Uber) while in India. 

However, if you have an dual sim (one for eSim) capable cellphone, there are some cheaper alternatives that allow you get access to data plans. while in India. 


Communication

Everyone should mainly use Whatsapp, which will work with data-only or Wi-Fi (no need for local cellphone number).

Please send us a message at 678-907-4335 and we will add you to the large group text. 

Things to Do (India)

There are very iconic places and sites to visit in India. We thought this was a good high-level list. 

Visa

For US Travelers

You will need to obtain a simple visa as a US Citizen visiting India. This should be obtained by applying online and receiving the visa approval before entering India. 

Please try do this 1 month before flying to India.

Health & Vaccines

Take standard precaution when traveling to India, just as you would in other regions of the world. Here is a list CDC recommendations when traveling to India. 

In addition, you should drink bottled water in India. It is easy to request wherever you go. Avoid tap water, ice, and street food. 

Hotels & Lodging

The most convenient hotel to stay at is the ITC Grand Chola, given that all the wedding events will take place here. If you want to stay at the ITC, please fill out our India survey or contact Rupa or Abi directly no later than Jan 30th and we will get you the discounted rate. 

Another option is the Le Meridian, which is a 4 minute drive from the ITC Grand Chola. To reserve a room at the Le Meridian, please send an email to bqtco2@leroyalmeridien-chennai.com and please mention booking name of Rupa and Abishek wedding.

Another good option is the Hilton Chennai, where we have a room block. Please click here to reserve your room at the Hilton Chennai. 

Here is the summary of price estimates ($/night): 

ITC Grand Chola (Double): $171 + 18% Tax

Hilton (Single): $140 + 18% Tax

Hilton (Double): $152 + 18% Tax

Le Meridien (Single): $80 + 12% Tax

Le Meridien (Double): $91 + 12% Tax


There are other hotels in Chennai if you prefer. 

Travel (US)
Flights

There are 2 airports in the DC area: one is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and the other is Washington Dulles Airport (IAD).  

IAD is 18 minutes to the wedding venue, while DCA is 22 minutes away. 

Wedding Venue Hotel

The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner is the wedding venue and we have a room block. Click the link below to reserve your room. 

Alternative Accommodations

If you don't want to stay at the Ritz, we also have a room block at the Hilton McLean (Tysons Corner). Its a 12 minute walk or 3 minute drive to the Ritz (wedding venue).  

Please use the link below for our room block. 

Things To Do (Washington DC)

Wanna make a trip out of our wedding? Check out some activities and places to visit while in DC - here and here!

Gifts
Personal Note

Your presence or best wishes on our special days is all we want. If you would like to give a gift, we would encourage you to donate to one of the charities we selected through our Zola registry. If you still feel you would rather give us a gift directly, we have selected a range of items and added to our registry. 

Gallery